IN THE wake of consecutive record losses to Collingwood and Hawthorn and another week of intensity scrutiny, Port Adelaide coach Matthew Primus pleaded with his players to show something against the Western Bulldogs.

Late in the first quarter of the clash at AAMI Stadium on Sunday, it appeared the rookie coach's message had fallen on deaf ears.

The listless Power trailed badly, having conceded the opening 10 goals of the game and for the third straight week looked like going into the first change goalless.

A late major to forward Daniel Stewart prevented that history from being made, but still the despondent crowd prepared itself for another potential 100-point flogging.

Fortunately for everyone involved at Alberton, it didn't eventuate.

Whether the Bulldogs slowed down after streaking to a 63-point lead is debatable, but Port Adelaide, led by second-game player John Butcher, rallied after quarter-time.

The Power were narrowly outscored in the second and third quarters, but took some consolation in winning the final quarter - their first winning term for a month - and in doing so kept the final margin to a slightly more palatable 60 points.

It wasn't great, but it was something.
 
"After quarter-time we were able to match them. We were only outscored by three points after then, so we were actually able to stick with them on the score board," Primus said after the game.

"We gave the players a pat on the back for fighting it out, but also [said] that you cost yourselves a game. Once you're 10 goals down the game is over.

"Our ability to fight it out and make sure it wasn’t a similar result to those of the last two weeks [was pleasing].

"I know we weren't playing a top-four side, but we were playing a side that were up and about in the first quarter, so to be able to fight back and see some of the young talent in Butcher, Jackson Trengove, Mitch Banner and Matty Lobbe in tough circumstances I thought showed a bit for the footy club."

Butcher kicked consecutive goals in the second quarter to kick-start Port Adelaide, and overcame a heavy knock to the jaw in the third quarter to finish the game with an equal-game high return of six goals.

Importantly, there was no sign of his much-talked about goalkicking yips.

His six goals came from just six kicks, and followed a promising debut against the Hawks last weekend.

"Butch was great again," Primus said.

"We know what he can do in the air and his conversion for goal was pretty good. He also brings a lot of pressure when the ball hits the ground and that's the real pleasing thing to see, that he just keeps working at it.

"It was frustrating for him not to get a game [sooner], but he just keeps going at it and he gets his just rewards."

Katrina Gill covers Adelaide news for afl.com.au. Follow her on Twitter: @AFL_KatrinaGill